Our Team

At Stretch Shapes, we’re passionate about creating beautiful experiences. There’s a lot of ways this passion articulates itself. Many of our team members were producing events before they came here. From local fashion shows, to corporate conferences, to international music festivals, most of us have been behind the scenes in one respect or another for quite some time. Because of this passion, we all found our way to the Stretch Shapes team — where we’re known for passionately producing outstanding event décor. We got our start in stretch fabric when our founder, Niko, started using it in his events. He had an event production company before Stretch Shapes, and was drawn to stretch fabric because of its versatility. As he used it more and more, he felt there was an opportunity to create a higher quality product. That passion for quality is what led to the birth of our company, and what has guided us ever since.

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As our company has grown, our capabilities have grown with it. We have a highly skilled creative design team that works in the latest graphic and structural design platforms. We have a team of highly skilled seamstresses with decades of combined experience. When it comes to precision, our patterning department brings it to the table. Our aluminum fabrication department is made up of innovators and masters of their craft. We utilize the best tools available for producing our product, like dye sublimation printing, the best Juki sewing machines in the industry, and our Autometrix Radian CNC fabric cutter. We have a highly trained sales and service department that strives every day to ensure we provide the best advice and service to our valued clients.
It’s our passion that drives us- our passion for beauty, our passion for service, and our passion for people. We can’t wait to put that passion to work for you.

At Stretch Shapes, we’re passionate about creating beautiful experiences. There’s a lot of ways this passion articulates itself. Many of our team members were producing events before they came here. From local fashion shows, to corporate conferences, to international music festivals, most of us have been behind the scenes in one respect or another for quite some time.

Read more

Because of this passion, we all found our way to the Stretch Shapes team — where we’re known for passionately producing outstanding event décor. We got our start in stretch fabric when our founder, Niko, started using it in his events. He had an event production company before Stretch Shapes, and was drawn to stretch fabric because of its versatility. As he used it more and more, he felt there was an opportunity to create a higher quality product. That passion for quality is what led to the birth of our company, and what has guided us ever since.
As our company has grown, our capabilities have grown with it. We have a highly skilled creative design team that works in the latest graphic and structural design platforms. We have a team of highly skilled seamstresses with decades of combined experience. When it comes to precision, our patterning department brings it to the table. Our aluminum fabrication department is made up of innovators and masters of their craft. We utilize the best tools available for producing our product, like dye sublimation printing, the best Juki sewing machines in the industry, and our Autometrix Radian CNC fabric cutter. We have a highly trained sales and service department that strives every day to ensure we provide the best advice and service to our valued clients.
It’s our passion that drives us- our passion for beauty, our passion for service, and our passion for people. We can’t wait to put that passion to work for you.

Niko Mantele

CEO and Founder

Favorite summer activity in Oregon?

On hot summer weekends I love taking a long river tube float with friends.

What inspires you?

I see creating a business as an opportunity to influence the lives of our clients through incredible service and products, as well, improving the lives of our team members by creating an exceptional work experience. This opportunity is what inspires me to forge ahead through each day.

Where have you traveled to?

In my mid 20’s and early 30’s traveling was my top priority, racking up 50+ countries throughout the globe. Travel has given me great perspective on life and liberty.

Kyle Holland

Sales Manager

Favorite social media platform?

Instagram — give me all your memes!

Most episodes of a show binged watched?

The entire first season of Brooklyn 99 — 22 episodes — don’t judge.

Favorite food?

Burritos — all the burritos, every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Justin Thompson

Relationship Manager

Are you an over or under when it comes to your toilet paper roll?

The correct way — OVER!!!!

Best vacation you ever had?

Baja with my childhood best friend on our motorcycles.

Favorite summer activity in Oregon?

Paddle boarding.

Mike Yakel

Relationship Manager

Favorite winter activity in Oregon?

Leaving Oregon and going to California or Florida.

Standard or electric toothbrush?

SoniCare all the way with a WaterPik for support.

Favorite food?

Pizza. Hot. Cold. Veggie. Meat. All Pizza. All the time.

Dave Youngman

Relationship Manager

Favorite show growing up?

TMNT

Favorite summer activity in Oregon?

Camping with my dogs!

Best vacation you ever had?

3-month trip traveling through Europe.

Dora Bustillo

Production

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Honduras.

Favorite summer activity in Oregon?

Getting exercise.

Do you prefer takeout or homemade food?

I do prefer my own homemade food.

Jessica Haeckel

Production

Is the earth flat?

Only in the second dimension!

What’s your favorite show?

Rick & Morty.

Your house is on fire and you could only grab one thing, what would it be?

A fire extinguisher.

Alysse Hennessey

Production

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Xena.

Most interesting thing about me that can’t be found on social media?

My former drag king performance days…

Favorite summer activity in Oregon?

Kayaking!

Alex Hopkins

Production

Who inspires you?

Happy people!

Go-to food when starving?

Coconut, all the coconuts.

Coffee or tea?

Both, all the time, forever.

Todd Jackson

Lead CNC Cutting Technician

All time favorite show or movie?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Favorite super hero?

It’s a toss up between Batman and Green Arrow. Okay, it’s Batman.

In your professional opinion, what was the best thing before sliced bread?

The knife, of course!

Karla Ramos

Production

Are you properly prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse?

Yes, I am! I’ve played the game Resident Evil many times and I’ve watched Zombie World War Z, I’m ready!

Do you own pets?

Yes, I do. I have a fluffy, big, handsome black cat. His name is Nino.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Amsterdam or Ireland.

Cuahutemoc Rojas

CNC Cutting Technician

Any strange and unusual hobbies?

I run up Spencer Butte religiously.

What or who inspires you?

Mother: she taught me that great things are achievable through hard work.

Your house is on fire and you have time to grab one thing, what would it be?

A bottle of Milagro Tequila, lime & salt!

Tiffany VanKlausmeier

Production

Favorite summer activity in Oregon?

I really enjoy sailing. It’s so exciting and it makes me feel like a pirate!

What is your spirit animal?

I always feel like my spirit animal is a wolf or a unicorn.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a costume creator!

Rebecca Welton

Pattern Maker

What is the wallpaper on your phone right now?

Spider Jerusalem from Transmetropolitan.

What’s your sign?

Stop.

What’s your favorite show or movie?

Preacher on AMC

Sage Winfree

Production / Assistant Pattern Maker

What is the wallpaper on your phone right now?

A dahlia from my garden with a honey bee, legs round with pollen.

Do you have any nicknames?

Ug, short for ugly duckling. My father had an interesting sense of humor.

Favorite show growing up?

RENT.

Jessica Bengtson

Marketing Coordinator

Favorite food?

Fruit. All the fruit. And then, more fruit.

Best vacation you ever had?

I spent a magical month in Thailand, but I wouldn’t say it was a your typical vacation — it was a traveling experience. While I was there, this crazy thing called a travel bug bit me, and I’ve had an insatiable desire for travel ever since.

Are you an over or under when it comes to your toilet paper roll?

Is it bad that I’ve never noticed people had preferences about this until recently? Oops!

Paul Driskill

Supply Chain Manager

What is your favorite season?

Oh, I love the fall, with the soft light, long shadows, and the crisp mornings.

Are you an over or under when it comes to your toilet paper roll?

Over, just like the patent drawing for toilet paper illustrates.

How would you handle your workspace if we hired a giant elephant to just hang out in the office?

I would stockpile peanuts, so I could have all of the elephant’s attention.

Morgan Lewis

Web Developer

How would you handle your workspace if we hired a giant elephant?

As long as he doesn’t sit on my desk, we won’t have a problem.

Best vacation you ever had?

Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, Oklahoma

Favorite season?

Autumn — not too hot, cold, or wet, and nothing’s making me sneeze.

Andrew McCollum

3D Designer

What is the wallpaper on your phone right now?

The Clackamas River in Mt. Hood National Forest.

In your professional opinion, what was the best thing before sliced bread?

The automobile!

What was the last book you read?

Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytelling.

Rachel Saxton

Graphic Design Manager

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Beyoncé. I’ll settle for Kelly or Michelle though.

What’s your favorite conspiracy theory?

That Rebecca Black’s hit single “Friday” is about the JFK assassination. Seriously. Google it.

Do you own pets? Tell me more!

My perfect sassy one-fanged black cat pretty much runs my house.

Taylor Wilson

Graphic Designer

Any strange and unusual hobbies?

I collect skulls and bones.

If you’re stranded on an island, what two things would you want with you?